used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Like Shakespeare’s and Bunyan’s,” suggested Kittredge with a grin.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
Bunyan's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Like Shakespeare’s and Bunyan’s,” suggested Kittredge with a grin.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
grinnounUS /ɡrɪn/
a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading “Like Shakespeare’s and Bunyan’s,” suggested Kittredge with a grin.
high-soundingadjective
pretentious (especially with regard to language or ideals)
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
HowardnounUS /ˈhaʊərd/
English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
Jackman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
and nothing more
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
Kittredge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Like Shakespeare’s and Bunyan’s,” suggested Kittredge with a grin.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “Like Shakespeare’s and Bunyan’s,” suggested Kittredge with a grin.
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
massesnounUS /ˈmæsəz/
the common people generally
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
a condition requiring relief
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
phrasesnounUS /ˈfreɪzəz/
plural of “phrase” — an expression consisting of one or more words forming a grammatical constituent of a sentence
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
inflected form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
precisely, exactly
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
ShakespearenounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːr/
English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)
From this reading “Shakespeare?
Shakespeare'snounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːrz/
possessive form of “shakespeare” — English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)
From this reading “Like Shakespeare’s and Bunyan’s,” suggested Kittredge with a grin.
having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
successive (without a break)
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading “Like Shakespeare’s and Bunyan’s,” suggested Kittredge with a grin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
a special situation
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What we want is just plain, simple English that goes straight to the point.”
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Like Shakespeare’s and Bunyan’s,” suggested Kittredge with a grin.
the words that are spoken
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
the act of creating written works
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Well, you see,” replied Howard, “I am writing for the masses, and fine writing would be wasted upon them.”
You're
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’re right,” said Jackman, “we don’t need literature on this paper--long words, high-sounding phrases and all that sort of thing.
